The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that its Financial Inclusion (FI) Index increased to 70.1 in FY26, compared with 67.0 in FY25. The improvement reflects greater access to formal financial services, wider usage of banking products and enhanced quality of financial-service delivery across India.

The RBI's FI Index is based on three broad dimensions: access, usage and quality. It measures the extent to which banking, credit, insurance, pension and digital-payment services are available and used by people across the country.

Key Highlights:
• RBI's Financial Inclusion Index rose to 70.1 in FY26 from 67.0 in FY25.
• The index evaluates access, usage and quality of financial services.
• It captures progress in availability and use of formal banking, credit, insurance, pension and payment services.
• A higher FI Index score indicates broader and deeper financial inclusion.

About RBI FI Index :-
Published By:, Reserve Bank of India
Base Year:, 2017
Dimensions:, Access, Usage and Quality

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final prudential norms relating to stressed financial assets. The framework aims to strengthen early identification, reporting, monitoring and resolution of stress in the loan accounts of regulated entities.

Stressed financial assets include loan accounts that show signs of repayment difficulty or have become non-performing assets. The prudential framework requires lenders to maintain robust credit-risk management, undertake timely review of stressed accounts and follow transparent resolution processes to preserve financial stability.

Key Highlights:
• RBI issued final prudential norms for management and resolution of stressed financial assets.
• The framework focuses on early identification, reporting and timely resolution of loan stress.
• It promotes stronger credit-risk management and monitoring by regulated entities.
• Timely resolution of stressed assets is important for protecting bank balance sheets and financial stability.

About RBI :-
Established:, 1935
Headquarters:, Mumbai
Governor:, Sanjay Malhotra

The film Article 370 was named the Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards for films certified during 2024. The National Film Awards recognise excellence in feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema across Indian languages.

The awards are administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and presented by the President of India. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest honour in cinema and is conferred under the National Film Awards framework.

Key Highlights:
• Article 370 won the Best Feature Film honour at the 72nd National Film Awards.
• The 72nd awards recognised films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification during 2024.
• National Film Awards cover feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting administers the awards.

About National Film Awards :-
Established:, 1954
Administrative Ministry:, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Highest Cinema Honour:, Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Ranul Himalayan was appointed as the Additional Chairman and Managing Director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). IRCTC is a public-sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways and plays an important role in online railway ticketing, catering services, tourism packages and bottled drinking water under the Rail Neer brand.

The appointment is expected to strengthen the organisation's leadership and operational oversight across its key service areas. IRCTC has become a major digital interface for rail passengers through its online ticket-booking platform and travel-related services.

Key Highlights:
• Ranul Himalayan was appointed Additional CMD of IRCTC.
• IRCTC functions under the Ministry of Railways.
• It provides online railway ticketing, catering, tourism and Rail Neer packaged drinking water services.
• IRCTC is a central public-sector enterprise and a key digital platform for railway passengers.

About IRCTC :-
Full Name:, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
Ministry:, Ministry of Railways
Headquarters:, New Delhi

A new species of damselfly named Lestes paloti was discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The discovery adds to the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot recognised for its high level of endemism and ecological significance.

Damselflies belong to the order Odonata, which also includes dragonflies. They are often used as indicators of freshwater ecosystem health because their life cycle is closely associated with wetlands, streams, ponds and other freshwater habitats.

Key Highlights:
• Lestes paloti is a newly discovered damselfly species from Kerala's Western Ghats.
• Damselflies belong to the insect order Odonata, which includes dragonflies.
• The discovery highlights the ecological richness and endemic biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
• Odonates are important bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health.

About Western Ghats :-
Other Name:, Sahyadri Hills
UNESCO Status:, World Heritage Site
Significance:, Global Biodiversity Hotspot

Indian badminton player P. V. Sindhu won the women's singles title at the Japan Open 2026. France's Christo Popov won the men's singles title at the tournament.

The Japan Open is part of the international badminton calendar and is organised under the global competition framework of the Badminton World Federation. P. V. Sindhu is one of India's most decorated badminton players, with Olympic medals and world-level achievements in women's singles badminton.

Key Highlights:
• P. V. Sindhu won the women's singles title at Japan Open 2026.
• Christo Popov of France claimed the men's singles title.
• The Japan Open is an important international badminton tournament under the BWF competition framework.
• Sindhu is among India's leading women's singles badminton players and an Olympic medallist.

About BWF :-
Full Name:, Badminton World Federation
Headquarters:, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sport:, Badminton

Spain clinched its second FIFA World Cup title after defeating Argentina in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The victory added another major achievement to Spain's football history after its first FIFA World Cup triumph in 2010.

The FIFA World Cup is the premier international men's football tournament organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. The tournament is held every four years and brings together national teams from across the world through a qualification process.

Key Highlights:
• Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Argentina in the final.
• The 2026 title was Spain's second FIFA World Cup title after its 2010 triumph.
• FIFA organises the FIFA World Cup, the top global tournament in men's international football.
• Argentina finished as runner-up in the 2026 edition.

About FIFA :-
Full Name:, Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Headquarters:, Zurich, Switzerland
Established:, 1904

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled “Peacko” as the official mascot for the BWF World Championships 2026. The mascot was introduced to promote public engagement, youth participation and awareness around the international badminton championship.

The BWF World Championships is one of the most prestigious tournaments in international badminton. It is organised by the Badminton World Federation and features leading players from member associations across the world competing for world championship honours.

Key Highlights:
• Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled Peacko as the official mascot for BWF World Championships 2026.
• The mascot aims to build awareness and public engagement for the global badminton event.
• The BWF World Championships is among the most prestigious international badminton tournaments.
• The event is organised by the Badminton World Federation.

About BWF World Championships :-
Organiser:, Badminton World Federation
Sport:, Badminton
Nature:, World Championship Tournament

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched VISHWAS 2026, a scheme for settlement of penalty-related disputes under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The initiative is intended to reduce litigation, encourage voluntary compliance and provide eligible establishments an opportunity to settle damages levied for delayed remittance of provident-fund dues.

The scheme provides relief in damages or penalties, subject to prescribed conditions and settlement timelines. It is expected to facilitate faster resolution of pending disputes while strengthening social-security compliance among employers. EPFO functions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and administers provident-fund, pension and insurance schemes for organised-sector workers.

Key Highlights:
• EPFO launched VISHWAS 2026 to settle penalty-related disputes involving delayed provident-fund remittances.
• The scheme aims to reduce litigation and promote voluntary compliance by eligible employers.
• It provides a mechanism for settlement of damages levied under the EPF law, subject to notified conditions.
• EPFO administers social-security schemes, including provident fund, pension and insurance, for organised-sector workers.

About EPFO :-
Full Name:, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
Ministry:, Ministry of Labour and Employment
Established:, 1952

Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) to join the National Knowledge Resource Consortium (NKRC). The collaboration aims to strengthen access to scientific journals, research databases and knowledge resources for intellectual-property administration and innovation-related work.

The agreement is expected to enhance research support, evidence-based examination and capacity building in patents, designs, trademarks and geographical indications. CGPDTM functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Highlights:
• CGPDTM signed an MoU with CSIR-NIScPR to join the National Knowledge Resource Consortium.
• NKRC provides participating institutions access to scholarly journals, research databases and scientific knowledge resources.
• The partnership will support intellectual-property administration, research and capacity building.
• CGPDTM operates under DPIIT in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

About CGPDTM :-
Full Name:, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
Administrative Department:, DPIIT
Ministry:, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

NITI Aayog launched the “Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035”. It outlines a mission-driven plan to expand India's bioeconomy from USD 195.3 billion in 2025 to USD 691 billion by 2035 and USD 2.6 trillion by 2047.

The roadmap proposes six National BioMissions—GeneIndia, AgriBio 2.0, BioX Foundry, One Health Grid, Marine Biotechnology and BioPharmaNext. It also recommends a Rs. 50,000 crore BioEconomy Growth Fund to promote biomanufacturing, innovation, scale-up, advanced therapeutics, diagnostics and commercialisation of biotechnology products.

Key Highlights:
• NITI Aayog launched a 10-year roadmap to build India into a leading bioeconomy powerhouse by 2035.
• The roadmap targets a USD 691 billion bioeconomy by 2035 and USD 2.6 trillion by 2047.
• It proposes six National BioMissions for biotechnology-led growth across health, agriculture, industry and marine resources.
• A proposed Rs. 50,000 crore BioEconomy Growth Fund aims to bridge the gap between research and commercial-scale manufacturing.

About NITI Aayog :-
Full Name:, National Institution for Transforming India
Established:, 2015
Chairperson:, Prime Minister of India

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena commissioned India's first and deepest two geothermal wells at Puga Valley. The wells were developed by the ONGC Energy Centre at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet and drilled to a depth of 1,000 metres each.

The two wells are crucial for the proposed 1 MW pilot geothermal power project at Puga, India's first demonstration-scale geothermal power project. Geothermal power uses naturally available heat below the Earth's surface, making it a renewable source of energy that can contribute to Ladakh's clean-energy and carbon-neutrality goals.

Key Highlights:
• L-G V. K. Saxena commissioned India's first and deepest two geothermal wells in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
• The wells were drilled to 1,000 metres each at an altitude above 14,000 feet by ONGC Energy Centre.
• They will support a 1 MW pilot geothermal power project, India's first demonstration-scale project of its kind.
• The initiative advances the vision of developing Ladakh as a renewable-energy hub and carbon-neutral region.

About Geothermal Energy :-
Source:, Heat Beneath Earth's Surface
Type:, Renewable Energy
Use:, Electricity and Heating

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approved six urban-development projects worth Rs. 2,719.80 crore for Ahmedabad, Gujarat, under the Urban Challenge Fund. The projects are intended to improve sanitation, water management, sludge treatment and public-transport systems in the city.

The approved works include rehabilitation of main sewerage networks in western and eastern Ahmedabad, upgrades to ageing sewerage infrastructure, an Intelligent Water Management System, a 125 tonnes-per-day Integrated Sludge Management Facility, and Intelligent Transport Management and Automatic Fare Collection systems. These projects aim to create more resilient, efficient and sustainable urban infrastructure.

Key Highlights:
• MoHUA approved six projects worth Rs. 2,719.80 crore for Ahmedabad under the Urban Challenge Fund.
• The approved projects include sewerage rehabilitation and modernisation in western and eastern Ahmedabad.
• A 125 tonnes-per-day Integrated Sludge Management Facility is included in the project package.
• Intelligent water management, transport management and automatic fare collection systems will improve urban service delivery.

About MoHUA :-
Full Name:, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Headquarters:, New Delhi
Sector:, Urban Development

National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) announced plans to establish two Centres of Excellence for semiconductor skilling in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and Guwahati, Assam. The Centres of Excellence will support specialised training in semiconductor design, fabrication-related processes, embedded systems, chip testing and other electronics-sector skills.

The initiative supports India's semiconductor ecosystem by developing a skilled workforce for the India Semiconductor Mission and related electronics-manufacturing programmes. NIELIT is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and provides education, training and skill development in electronics and information technology.

Key Highlights:
• NIELIT will establish semiconductor-skilling Centres of Excellence in Ahmedabad and Guwahati.
• The centres will support training in semiconductor design, testing, embedded systems and electronics technologies.
• The initiative supports India's semiconductor ecosystem and the India Semiconductor Mission.
• NIELIT works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

About NIELIT :-
Full Name:, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology
Ministry:, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Nature:, Autonomous Scientific Society